Fish and Wildlife Service to designate certain protected species as “experimental populations.” Under such a designation, Colorado’s new wolf populations would, under certain circumstances, be subject to lethal control, as well as “injurious nonlethal” methods and “intentional harassment,” which the Endangered Species Act would otherwise prohibit. Named for the relevant section in the Endangered Species Act, a 10(j) allows the U.S. Polis, who supports the issuance of the rule, wrote in a veto letter that SB-256 was “unnecessary and undermines the voters’ intent” in passing Proposition 114 three years ago. The bill would have prevented state wildlife officials from carrying out their restoration plans until the federal government issues a special 10(j) rule authorizing the “lethal take” of wolves that pose a repeated threat. Supporters said the law was necessary to ensure that Colorado ranchers wouldn’t be exposed to criminal liability for protecting livestock from newly reintroduced wolves. Senate Bill 23-256 had been approved by bipartisan majorities in the Legislature. Jared Polis on Tuesday vetoed legislation passed by lawmakers in the General Assembly that his administration said could have thrown a wrench into the state’s plans to reintroduce gray wolves to the state by the end of this year, as required by a ballot measure approved by voters in 2020. A pair of wolves (courtesy of Colorado Parks & Wildlife).Ĭolorado Gov.

Sequel to rule of wolves